Facts about Diuretics
Diuretics are also known as “water pills” and are used to treat pulmonary edema (lung congestion) caused by heart failure. In Malaysia, the common diuretic is “furosemide.” In recent years, “torasemide” has also begun to attract the attention of veterinarians. Furosemide has a duration of action of about 6 hours in the body and needs […]
Holter versus ECG
Holter’s monitoring and electrocardiogram (ECG) both record the heart’s electrical activity. However, unlike a standard ECG, the Holter’s monitor can continuously record the pet’s heart’s electrical activity for an extended period (24-48 hours). In contrast, a standard ECG is generally used to record the heart’s electrical activity for a few minutes. Both are used to […]
Left atrial tear due to MMVD in dogs
One of the rare complications of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the rupture of the left atrial wall. To date, the author has seen two cases. Why and how does it occur? As MMVD progresses, the left atrium enlarges to accommodate the backflow of blood from the left ventricle. The pressure within the left […]
Recruiting canine candidates for V-clamp surgery in Malaysia
Understanding MMVD and treatments in layman’s terms
MMVD stands for Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease, also known as degenerative mitral valve disease. The exact cause of MMVD is still unknown, but we do know that it commonly affects small to medium breed dogs. Certain breeds, such as Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Dachshunds, and Chihuahuas, can develop MMVD at a younger age, suggesting a […]
V-clamp surgery training for MMVD
Great news for all dog owners in Malaysia! Our team underwent intensive training on mitral valve clamp surgery in China. This procedure involves minimally invasive surgery that doesn’t require a bypass machine or stopping the heart, aiming to reduce the severity of mitral regurgitation. After the surgery, the dogs may not require any cardiac medications. […]
Prevalence of heart failure among different common dog breeds
The graph below depicts the prevalence of heart failure due to MMVD among different dog breeds at Shinzō Clinic. Prevalence refers to the number of dogs within each breed examined by us that were found to succumb to heart failure. Breeds such as the miniature pinscher, chihuahua, and cavalier King Charles spaniel are the top […]
Dog breeds by percentage at Shinzō
This pie chart illustrates the distribution of dog breeds by percentage, which were presented for cardiac evaluation at our clinic. A total of 1003 dogs were seen by us. The most common breed is the Poodle, followed by the Shih Tzu, Pomeranian, and Miniature Schnauzer. Please note that not all dogs had heart disease. This […]
Survival of dogs diagnosed with stage C MMVD
After a dog is diagnosed with stage C MMVD (heart failure stage), how long can it survive? In the literature, a median survival of 9-15 months is reported in other countries. In Malaysia’s context, in a preliminary study by Shinzō, 30 dogs diagnosed and treated by us survived for approximately 366.6 days, or about 1 […]
Common dog breeds diagnosed with heart failure due to MMVD by Shinzō
If you’re wondering, in our clinic, what the common dog breeds are that succumbed to heart failure due to myxomatous mitral valve disease, this graph explains it all. In a total of 61 dogs, Poodle is the most represented (33%), followed by Miniature Schnauzer (16%), Shih Tzu (11%), and Pomeranian (8%). (Please note that this […]
